Lightning-rod brace.



A. J. STEPFES.

LIGHTNING ROD BRAGB.

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP EB 13 1914.

1,122,434. I Patented De0.29,1914.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTON J. STEFFES, 0F CHILTON, WISCONSIN.

LIGHTNING-ROD BRAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 13, 1914. Serial N 0. 818,468.

To oll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTON J. STEFFEIS, a

"citizen of the United States, and resident of Chilton, in the county of Calumet and State of NVisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements Lightning-Rod Braces, of which the-following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are apart of this specification.

My lnvention has relation to nnprovements in lightning rod'braces.

Lightnmg rod braces or supports, as heretofore constructed, have been of snchcharacterj as to only be applicable to one particular formation of roof, thatis' to say, a brace or support adaptable to a flat roof isof such formation as not to be applicable to, or properly attachable to a slanting .roof, and vice versa. Hence it has been necessary to provide a special form for flat roofs, andqanother special form for slantingroofs. These prior constructions, in many cases, consist of a tripod-like arrangement having feetat their lower ends, for attachment to the roof.-

It' is the primary object of my invention not only to provide a simple and cheap form of lightning rod brace, but, furthermore, one

which, while normally in form for application to a flat roof, can, by a simple-bendingthe lightning rod being shown in section; and Fig. 3 is a view of a fragment of the lightning rod equipped with my improvements, showing the base plate attached to a,

flat roof.

' The lightning rod proper is of the usual construction, being shown as consisting of an upright, copper rod 4, and the shell point 5 mounted on the upper end of said rod, in the usual manner. I have. also shown a weather vane 6, revolubly mounted on the rod, and, if desired for ornamental purposes, a glass basic (not shown); can also be mounted thereon.

Referring particularly-to the improvements,a base attaching plate 7 is employed, and which consists of some readily bendable metal, preferably galvanized sheet -iron. This plate is provided with a series of holes 8 forthe. passing therethrough 'ofmails 9 which are driven into the roof, and thereby securely attach the plate tothe -roof: Centrally, the base plate is provided with an openingthrou gh which passesthe lower re- .duced, threaded end 10'0f the rod 4. A nut- 11 is turned on to the lower extremity of this reduced threaded end, and thereby serves to hold the base plate in connection with the rod. Also carried on the reduced threaded end, and interposed. between the top of the attaching plate and'the shoulder offthe rod,

'zlS a holding clamp 12, fo r the cable or conductor 13. It. is, of course, obvious that,

when the nut is'turned up tightly against the under sideof the attachingplate, not only is this plate securely connected to the rod, but I also the holding clamp is securely held in place. If, for instance, it is desired to at-- tach the lightning rod to a slanting roof, such as the roof 14 shown in Fig. 1, all that 1s necessary to-be done is, to bend the base plate so as to conform it to the particular slant of the roof to which attachment isto be made, and then drive the nails through the openings of the base plate and into the roof.- On the other hand, if it is desired to, attach the device to a fiat roof, such as 15,

shown in Fig. 3, the attaching plate is left in its original fiat condition, and attached in the mannerclea'rlyillustrated in Fig. 3. a I

From the foregoing description it will be seen, that I provide not only a construction having the advantage o'f'adaptability to roofs of. all forms and shapes, but further more, a most simple and cheap construction, and one wherein the attachment can be made very quickly or expeditiously.

l/Vhat I claim is: 1

- 1'. In a lightning conductor, the combination of a rod, means .for securing the rod to the roof of'a building, a wire conductor, and

Patented 1120.29, 1914; ,1

a clamp for securing said conductor to said rod, said clamp being held in closed-position to clamp the rod by the rodjsecuring means.

2. In. a lightning conductor, the combination of a rod, a' plate provided with anopening through which said rod passes, meansfor securing the plate to the building, a wire conductoiya clamp. for the wire conductor,

said clamp being mounted on said rod, and,

ineans for securing said rod and clamp to the plate.

3. In a lightning conductor, the combination with a rod provided at its lower end wire cable, said clamp being mounted on the reduced end of the rod ad acent said plate,

' and means secured to the rod for securing it at the clamp to the plate. 15

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature,

in presence of two witnesses.

ANTON J. STEFFES.

Witnesses: Gno. G. HUME,

ARTHUR V. HUME, 

